Strip aligning and feeding device



T R A H E R STRIP ALIGNING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1940" sSheets-Sheet 2 W?? g 7 K I flrzmw/f.

Dw 1, 1 R. a HART STRIP ALIGNING AND FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1940a Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRIPALIGNING AND FEEDING DEVICE Robert E. Hart, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Lithofold Corporation, St.Loul Missouri s, Mo., a corporation of Application November 27, 1940,Serial No. 367,434

16 Claims.

' embodied in other imprinters, or may be used in conjunction withstrips of other materials passed through other machines. Some of theuses I have in mind for my device are in connection with perforatedCelluloid films in moving picture apparatus, with punched cardboardpatterns in Jacquard looms or in automatic embroidery organizations,with barometers, recording thermometers or other instruments usingmovable charts, or with type casting machines using tape motivators.

Heretofore, in feeding and aligning devices included or used incombination with apparatus of this general type, the movable mechanismcomprised pins carried by and projecting from a wheel or belt and thepins were arranged to engage successively in a series of punches orperforations in the strip being fed through the device. There has alwaysbeen difficulty in maintaining the strip in proper position so that theperforations would register accurately with-the pins which, ofnecessity, entered these openings at an angle. Furthermore, if the stripwas thick or consisted of a plurality of superposed parts, as in thecase of continuous tabulating forms, difliculty was encountered inkeeping the strips in engagement with the pins. These deficiencies ofthe structures used in the past are well recognized and the feedingdevices have been changed and redesigned in attempts to obviate faultyoperation. The attempts have failed, though, for the most part.

The objects of my invention are to provide a strip feeding and aligningdevice which will be greatly improved in construction and operation overthose heretofore available; to provide such a device wherein the movablefeeding element remains in constant engagement with a portion of thestrip during the entire time that the portion is passing through thedevice; and to provide a strip feeding and aligning device which may beused with great utility and eflicacy in combination with various typesof machines.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar as stated above, myinvention is shown. for

, illustrative purposes, in conjunction with a tabcharacters are used todesignate similar parts,

ulating machine and a continuous, marginally perforated form passingtherethrough. In these drawings, Fig. -1 is an end view of the deviceand parts of the machine on which it is mounted; Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the device as in Fig. 1 and with a continuous form threadedtherethrough; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, along the line 3-3 inFig. 2,of one of the feeding and aligning units; Fig. 4 is an end view of theunit; Fig. 5 is a cross section along the line 55 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6. isa plan view, partially broken away, of thisv unit; Fig. '7 showsdiagrammatically the movable element of the unit and its relation to themarginal perforations I in the form; Figs. 8 and 9 are a plan and an endview, partly in section, respectively, of a modified device including myinvention; and Fig. 10 is a cross section of said modification, along aline lll|0 Fig. 8. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, a strip feeding and aligning deviceillustrated therein as an embodiment of my invention, is mounted, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, on a tabulating machine, shown only in part andgenerally indicated at A. This tabulating machine, of course, is no partof my invention except as insofar as my device is combined therewith andthis machine includes a power driven platen B against which is doneimprinting by the machine and which has asociated therewith upper andlower pressure rollers C and D, respectively.

On one end of the platen B is a gear E meshing with a gear F fixed tothe power shaft G and arranged to drive, in a'iddition to the platen, adriving gear for the feeding and aligning device, in the manner morefully described below. The strip feeding and aligning device in thedrawings is indicated generally at H and comprises a pair of end platesI, each of which has notches 4i) and Ml formed therein and adapted toengage studs 4| and 4|, respectively, carried by the tabulating machinehead, whereby the end plates l and the device H carried thereby may be,mounted removably in operable relation to the Etabulating machine.

The device G'comprises, in addition to the end plates I, a square driveshaft 2 and a pair of guide rods 3 and 4, all of which extend betweenthe end plates l and, preferably, are arranged parallel to the axis ofthe platen B. Mounted on and carried by the shaft 2 and guide rods 3 and4, so as to be slidably adjustable and longitudinally movabletherealong, is a pair of feeding and aligning units 5. The aligningunits are similar excepting that the parts thereof are partiallyreversed in position so that each of the aligning units is arranged tohave a marginal portion of a continuous form 5 threaded therethrough.This continuous form 6 is no part 'of my invention. Similar forms areold in the arts, are in common usage and, hence, may be of any size andshape and may include one part or many parts interleaved with carbonpaper and arranged in superposed registering relation.

The movable feeding and aligning mechanism, to be described below, ofeach of the aligning units 5, is driven. by the square drive shaft 2which has fixed to one end thereof a gear 'I driven from the drive gearF of the tabulating machine through intermediate gears 8 and 9,

surface of the platen 3 between imprinting operations.

Each of the aligning units 5 has a frame ID of any suitable shape andarrangement to carry and accommodate the various parts and having a pairof webs I l and I2, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, arranged atright angles to one another. The web II is bored to receive a ballbearing l3 held in place by a plate l4 and, in turn, receiving, withinits inner race, a. hub l5 having a square central opening through whichprojects the square shaft 2 of approximately the same cross sectionalarea as the opening in the hub. Carried by the hub I5 is a miter gear16* in mesh with a similar miter gear I! fixed to a shaft l8 mounted ina ball bearing l9 carried by the web I2 and in a ball bearing 20 carriedby a block 2| and held in place therein by a plate 22.

In this embodiment th guide rod 3 has a slidable fit through the webIll. Each unit 5 also comprises a barrel 23 and a mandrel 24, Centeredaxially in the mandrel 24 is a helix 25 which may be of any materialbut, preferably, is formed of stiff wire having a diameter substantiallythe same or slightly less than the diameter of the marginal perforations26 in the form 6. Several turns of the helix 25, at a point where theirouter peripheries are exposed through an opening 21 in a wall of thebarrel 23, are provided with teeth 28, shaped, positioned, and arrangedto mesh with the teeth on a gear 29 fixed to the shaft I8, as by the setscrew 30, and having a portion of its periphery extending into theopening 27. It is obvious that the helix 25 will be rotated about themandrel 24 when the gear 29 is driven by the shaft l8, through the mitergears I6 and I! from the shaft 2, which shaft,

in tum, is driven by the power shaft G of the tabulating machine throughthe gears F, 9, 9 and I.

The end of the helix 25 near the point where it is engaged by the gear29, as indicated at 3I,

is cut at an angle so that it will bear firmly against the adjacent endwall of the hollow interior of the barrel 23. Also, the other end of thehelix, indicated at 32, is formed with a blunt point, one portion ofwhich bears against the other end wall of the barrel, which end mayberemovable, two piece plug 33 whereby the helix 25 may be slipped off ofthe mandrel 24 when the plug 33 is removed. If the ends of the helixbear against the end walls of the hollow interior of the barrel, as justdescribed, the helix will be maintained in predetermined positionlongitudinally on the mandrel 24 as it rotates thereabout. The barrel 23may be formed in two longitudinally meeting parts hinged as at 3 sothat, when the' parts are swung away from one another, the hollowinterior of the barrel and the mandrel 24 and helix 25 contained thereinmay be exposed for cleaning or examination. The

mandrel 24, of course, must be maintained in fixed position and'it has achannel 35 extending from end to end longitudinally thereof andregistering with a slot 38 extending from end to end in the wall of thebarrel 23, all as shown in Fig. 5 and for the purposes fully set forthbelow.

As stated above, the units 5 are manually adjustable on andlongitudinally slidable along the shaft 2 and guide rods 3 and 4 so thata variety of form widths may be accommodated therebetween in the mannershown in Fig. 2 with each of the perforated marginal portions of a formprojecting laterally into and extending longitudinally through the slot36 and channel 35. After the units 5 have been moved into properposition, as shown in Fig. 2, it is best that the units be maintained inadjusted position. Therefore, in the embodiment of my invention beingdescribed now, I prefer that each of the units 5 be provided with aclamp engaging the guide rod 4. Each clamp consists of a fixed member 31and a pivoted member 38 crossing one another and impelled into clampingposition by a spring 39. When the finger grips of the members 31 and 38are moved towards one another the crossing arm of the member 33 will bemoved laterally between the end plates I, but, when the members arereleased, the spring 39 will move the member 38 to clamp the rod 4between the cross arms of the members and the unit will be maintained infixed laterally adjusted position.

The use and operation of the strip feeding and aligning device, shown inFigs. 1 to 'l of the drawings and describedabove, as embodying myinvention, when applied to a tabulating machine, is as follows:

If the device has been mounted on the machine by means ofthe-cooperating notches l0 and 40* and studs 4| and M with the gear 8 ofthe aligning device in mesh with the gear F of the machine, when thepower shaft G is operated the helix 25 will be driven in the directionindicated of the continuous form being passed through the machine inwhich adjusted position the marginal portions of the form each willregister with the channel 35 and slot 39 of one of the units 5 and theseries of perforations 26 in the form will register with the spacebetween the channel and the slot, in which space the helix 25 moves.After such adjustment the free end of each marginal portion is threadedinto the opening of the slot and channel at the end of a unit nearestthe platen B. Preferably, the helixes 25 are arranged so that theyrotate uniformly, that is, at any the aligning device a knife point ofrotation theends 3| and 32 of one helix will be at the same relativeposition as the other. Therefore, when the marginal portions arethreaded into the unit and the units are rotated manually, the pointedends 32 will move down-- wardly simultaneouslyacross the space betweenthe channel 35 and slot 36 and'through'longitudinally registeringperforations in such marginal portions. It will be obvious, that, asrotation of the helixes 25 is continued, the movement thereof, inengagement with the perforations 28 will cause the form to be drawn intoand to be passed through the unit. When any given perforation has beenengaged successively by the helical windings it will finally leave theunit and will be disengaged at the end 3!. Of course; after the free endof each marginal portion has been threaded into the unit the machine maybe operated mechanically by its source of power, usually an electricmotor, not shown, and the helixes 25 will be rotated from the powershaft G driven by the motor. The relation of a marginal portion of theform with its coincident helix 25 is clearly shown in the schematic viewof Fig. 7.

If it isdesired to shear the marginal portions as it passes through- 42may be mounted from the body of the form on each unit at the properposition by any suitable means such as a set screw 43 extending into aboss 44 formed on the upper part of the barrel form is moved whenpositeend of the helix there might be a tendency, because of friction on themandrel 24 and because of the engagement of the'end 3| with the end wallof the hollow interior of the barrel 23, for the windings of the helixto be compressed and to be carried out of proper spaced relation forengagements with the perforations 28. the motivating force is applied asin these embodiments such compression will be minimized and, in fact,will be obviated for all practical purposes.

If the marginal perforations and the helix are arranged, as shown inconnection with the two illustrated embodiments, when a section of theform has been started into the device it is necessary to passthatsection entirely there,-

- through to avoid mutilation, because the section cannot be removedotherwise without tearing the marginal portion confined within eachunit. To

avoid this the marginal portions may be divided 23 of each unit. Thisshearing arrangement may be of any type and may be effected at any pointduring the travel of the form. A guide plate 45 may be arranged on eachunit to support the form as it passes therethrough.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, the helix 25 of eachunit is driven by a worm 48 fixed to the shaft I 8 in the same manner asis the gear 28 in the previously described embodiment. Further, in thismodified form of my device the means for laterally adjusting the unitsfor forms of varying widths has been changed. The guide rod 4 extendsthrough a boss 41 formed on each unit. A threaded shaft 48 is positionedparallel to the shaft 48 is threaded in reverse directions from itsmedian point toward each end thereof. The block 2| carries an extension49 on which is pivotally mounted a trigger 50 carrying a jaw 5| threadedin the same directionas the end of the shaft 48 with which the jaws unitis associated. A spring 52 normally impels the trigger 58 to clamp thejaw 5| on the shaft 48. When the unit is to be adjusted laterally thetrigger 58 is pivoted manually to carry the jaw 5| out of contactwith'the shaft 48 and the unit may be slid into approximate I adjustedposition. After each unit thus has been primarily adjusted the triggers50 are released to allow the jaws 5| to engage the shaft 48 with thethreads on the jaws in mesh with the threads on the shaft. Secondary orfinal adjustment of the units is accomplished by manual rotation of theshaft 48 through -the hand wheel 53. If. the shaft 48 is threaded inreverse directions, as in this embodiment, the units 5 will be movedaway from or towards one another depending upon the direction in whichthe shaft 48 is rotated.

Except for the method of lateral adjustment, this second form of mydevice is operated in the same manner as the first described embodiment.In any form of my invention I prefer that a helix 25 be rotated by ameans, as for example, a gear 28 or worm 48, located at the rear end ofthe helix, that is, at the end toward which the into longitudinallyextending transversely separatedareas, the perforations maybe ofmodified key-hole shape having a slit or notch extending from eachperforation to the adjacent edge of the former other expedients may beused so.

that the perforations maybe moved laterally into or out of engagementwith the turns of the helix, as desired, without mutilationfof the form.

I do not intend to limit myself to the modifica.

, tions of my invention shown and described herein.

It will be understood clearly that a spiral or other volute may be usedinstead of a helix for the movable strip feeding mechanism and that theother parts of the feeding and aligning device may be varied within widelimits without departing from the essence of my invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. A strip feeding and aligning device comprising arotatably mountedvolute maintained in fixed axial position and adapted and arranged sothat the turns thereof will pass through aligned perforations formed insaid strip when said v0- lute is rotated whereby said strip will bemoved longitudinally thereof. v 2. A strip feeding and aligning devicecomprising a rotatably mounted volute maintained in fixed axial positionand adapted and arranged so that the turns thereof pass through alignedperforations formed in said strip when said volute is rotated wherebysaid strip will be moved longitudinally thereof, and means for rotatingsaid volute positioned at the end thereof toward which rotation tends tocause said volute to move.

3. A stripfeeding and aligning device comprising a rotatably mountedvolute arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the path ofmovement of said' strip and being otherwise adapted so that when saidvolute is rotated the turns thereof will pass successively through saidstrip. 4. A strip feeding and aligning device comprising a rotatablymounted volute arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the pathof movement of said strip and being otherwise adapted I lute is rotatedsaid strip .will be moved longitudinally thereof.

' 5. A feeding and aligning device for a strip having a longitudinallyextending series of perforapassing through the device. If the motivatingforce was arranged at the opstrip will tions formed therein, said devicecomprising a rotatably mounted volute arranged with its axissubstantially parallel to the path of movement of said strip and beingotherwise adapted so that the turns thereof will pass successivelythrough said perforations when said volute is rotated, means formaintaining said volute in fixed axial position, whereby as said voluteis rotated said he moved longitudinally thereof.

6. A feeding and aligning device for a strip having a longitudinallyextending series of perforations formed in a marginal portion thereof,said device comprising a rotatable helix arranged with its axissubstantially parallel to the path of movement of said strip and adaptedso that the turns thereof will pass successively through saidperforations when said helix is rotated, means for maintaining saidhelix in fixed axial position, whereby as said helix is rotated saidstrip will be moved longitudinally thereof.

'1. A feeding and aligning device for a strip having alongitudinallyextending series of perforations formed in a marginal portion thereof,said device comprising a rotatably mounted helix arranged with its axissubstantially parallel to thepath'of movement of said stripand adaptedso that the turns thereof will pass successively through saidperforations when said helix is rotated, the entering end of said helixbeing pointed to facilitate its passage through said perforations, meansfor maintaining said helix in fixed axialpositio'n whereby as said helixis rotated said strip will be moved longitudinally thereof,

and means for rotating said helix positioned near the end thereofopposite said entering end.

8. A feeding and aligning device for a strip having a longitudinallyextending series of perforations formed in a marginal portion thereof,said device comprising a rotatably mounted volute arranged with its axissubstantially parallel to the path of movement of said strip andpositionedwith the edge of said strip within the turns of said volute,said volute being otherwise adapted whereby said turns will passsuccessively through said perforations when said volute is rotated,means for maintaining said volute in fixed axial position whereby as itis rotated said strip will be moved longitudinally thereof.

9. A strip feeding and aligning device comprising a housing having anelongated slot extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to have amarginal portion of said strip project laterally therein and extendlongitudinally therealong, a volute rotatably mounted within the hollowinterior of said housing and being maintained in fixed axial positionand otherwise adapted so that the turns thereof will pass successivelythrough a given point in said marginal portion when said volute ismechanically rotated, whereby said strip will be moved longitudinallythereof.

10.A strip feeding and aligning device comprising a housing having anelongated slot extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to have amarginal portion of said strip project laterally therein and extendlongitudinally therealong, a helix rotatably mounted within the hollowinterior of said housing with its axis substantially parallel to theedge of said marginal portion and being otherwise adapted so that theturns thereof will pass successively through a given point'in saidmarginal portion when said helix is rotated within said housing wherebysaid strip will be moved longitudinally thereof.

' 11. A feeding and aligning device for a strip having a longitudinallyextending series of perhaving a longitudinally extending series ofperforations formed in a marginal portion thereof, said devicecomprising a housing having an elongated slot extending longitudinallythereof and adapted to have said marginal portion project laterallytherein and extend longitudinally therealong, a helix rotatably mountedwithin the hollow interior of said housing and being otherwise arrangedso that the turns thereof will pass successively through saidperforations when said helix is rotated, whereby said marginal portionwill be moved longitudinally through said housing, the entering end ofsaid helix being pointed to facilitate its passage through saidperforations.

13. A feeding and aligning device for a strip having a longitudinallyextending series of perforations formed in a marginal portion thereof,said device comprising a housing having an elongated slot extendinglongitudinally thereof and adapted to have said marginal portion projectlaterally therein and extend longitudinally therealong, a voluterotatably mounted within the hollow interior of said housing and beingotherwise arranged so that the turns thereof will pass successivelythrough said perforations when said volute is rotated, and means forrotating said helix positioned at the end of said housing opposite theend at which said marginal portion enters said slot.

14. A strip feeding and aligning device comprising a housing having anelongated slot extending longitudinally thereof, a mandrel positionedwithin the hollow interior of said housing but spaced from the sidewalls thereof, said mandrel having a channel formed therein in registerwith said elongated slot whereby a marginal portion of said form mayprojectlaterally into said housing and into said channel and may extendlongitudinally therealong, a helix rotatably mounted on said mandrel inthe space between said mandrel and the side walls of said housing, saidhelix being otherwise adapted and arranged whereby the turns thereofwill pass successively through a given point in said marginal portionwhen said helix is rotated and whereby said marginal portion will bemoved longitudinally through said housing.

15. A strip feeding and aligning devicecomprising a housing having anelongated slot extending longitudinally 'thereof, a mandrel positionedwithin the hollow interior of said housing but spaced from the sidewalls thereof, said mandrel having a channel formed therein in registerwith said elongated slot whereby a marginal portion of said form mayproject laterally into said housing and into said channel and may extendlongitudinally therealong, a helix rotatably mounted on said mandrel inthe spac betweensaid mandrel and the side walls of said housing, saidhelix being otherwise adapted and arranged whereby when said helix isrotated one end thereof will 12. A feeding and aligning device forastrip i enter said-marginal portion'at a. given point then said pointhaving a longitudinally forationsformed in a and said device comprisinga housing having an elongated slot extending longitudinally thereof, apositioned within the hollow interior'of said housing but spaced fromthe side walls thereof, said mandrel therein in register having achannel formed with said elongated slot whereby the marginal portion ofsaid form may project laterally into said housing and into said channeland may extend longitudinally theremarginal portion. thereof,

will-be engaged successively by the other turns of said helix and saidmarginal ing, means for rotating said along, helix rotatably mounted onsaid mamdrel inthe space between'said mandrel and the side walls of saidhousing, said helix having its 'axis substantially parallel to the edgeof said marginal portioniand having the entering end thereofpointedwhereby as said helix is rotated said entering end will passsuccessively through said perforations and then said perforations willbe engaged successively by each of the turns of said helix and saidmarginal portion of said form will be moved longitudinallythrough saidhoushelix positioned. near

